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Overview

Sahel's rising star

A few weeks ago, FIFA.com asked readers to vote on the best
current African players. All the big names were there, with Côte
d'Ivoire's Didier Drogba neck-and-neck with Cameroon's
Samuel Eto'o, Togo's Emmanuel Adebayor, Egypt's Mohamed
Aboutreika and Ghana's Michael Essien. A little way behind, a
little-known Tunisian striker was coming up on the rails...

Etoile Sportive du Sahel striker Mohamed Amine Chermiti may not
be well known to European fans, but he is certainly making a name
for himself in his home continent. His career has got off to a
flying start, and he is already seen as the future of Tunisian
football.

"He isn't yet
the greatest, but he will be pretty soon," said a
FIFA.com user by the name of
sahlus, while
BIGTITO reckons that "he will soon be lighting up not
just Tunisian football but the whole of Africa. The world will
discover his talent at the next CAN". Ghana 2008 starts next
January, but before then, the FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2007 will
give the youngster a chance to prove his worth on the big
stage.

He is lively, an expert dribbler, extremely fast and willing to
fight for the ball. The 19-year-old is relatively small for a
centre-forward (1.76m), but he has turned his diminutive stature
into an advantage. "Some defenders don't take him
seriously due to his size," explained his captain Saif Ghezal,
"but once their backs are turned, he's off, heading
towards the goal. He likes to give his minders the slip." A
fact borne out by the number of goals he has scored with his head,
putting away his team-mates' crosses.

Europe awaitsA number of European clubs have been tracking Chermiti and it
seems clear that his days with ESS are numbered. By June 2008, he
is expected to be plying his trade on a different continent, which
should be perfect timing according to Ghezal. "Amine's
still young, he has plenty of time ahead of him. His career has
already taken off really quickly but he can still improve. He has
great potential.

"This competition is the perfect opportunity for him,"
the skipper went on. "Not only is he going to come across a
different style of football and some excellent defences but also
because the eyes of Europe will be upon him. I know that he's
already had some offers from up there and now it's down to him
to prove how good he is and seize his chance."

The most important chances he will have to seize will be out on
the pitch, starting at the National Stadium in Tokyo, where Etoile
will face Mexican side Pachuca in the quarter-finals on Sunday.
Whoever wins that tie will face Argentinean legends Boca Juniors in
the semis - just the kind of challenge Chermiti would relish.